PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Aaron Rodgers threw for 221 yards and a touchdown, T.J. Watt returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Pittsburgh Steelers opened their season with a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium. The announced attendance was 66,089. Pittsburgh improved to 1-0. Atlanta fell to 0-1. Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. The veteran from Chico, Calif., was Pittsburgh’s top star. Cooper Rush, a Charlotte, Mich., native, completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown for Atlanta. Chris Boswell made two field goals for Pittsburgh, and Nick Folk made two for Atlanta. Pittsburgh scored on Watt’s fourth-quarter interception return and Boswell’s two field goals. Atlanta scored on Rush’s touchdown pass and Folk’s two field goals.

Pittsburgh struck first in the opening quarter when Boswell connected on a 43-yard field goal with 8:30 remaining. Atlanta answered late in the quarter. Rush found Brian Robinson Jr. on a short pass to the right, and Robinson turned it into a 23-yard touchdown. Folk added the extra point, giving the Falcons a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. The Steelers tightened the game in the second quarter. Boswell made a 28-yard field goal with 12:28 left before halftime, then Rodgers found tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 6-yard touchdown with 10:39 remaining. Boswell’s extra point put Pittsburgh ahead 13-7. The Pittsburgh defense held from there, and the Steelers carried that lead into the break.

Atlanta cut into the deficit in the third quarter. Folk made a 51-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in the period, bringing the Falcons within three points at 13-10. The score remained that way until early in the fourth quarter, when Watt stepped in front of a Rush pass intended for Robinson at the Atlanta 35-yard line. Watt returned the interception 35 yards for a touchdown, and the Steelers had a 20-10 advantage. Atlanta responded with a 43-yard field goal by Folk with 10:35 left in the fourth quarter, making it 20-13. The Falcons had later chances, but Pittsburgh’s defense prevented a tying drive. Pittsburgh held Atlanta without points after Folk’s 43-yard field goal.

Watt finished with four tackles, two sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown. Jack Sawyer also had four tackles for Pittsburgh. Payton Wilson led Pittsburgh with 13 tackles. Patrick Queen added seven tackles, Jaquan Brisker had six tackles and an interception, and Jamel Dean recorded five tackles. Alex Highsmith contributed three tackles and two sacks. Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon and Robert Spears-Jennings each had three tackles. Chris Boswell made two of three field goals. Cameron Johnston punted four times for 194 yards. Kaden Wetjen returned one kickoff for 27 yards and two punts for 13 yards. Eli Heidenreich had two kickoff returns for 47 yards. Nick Herbig, Cole Holcomb, Daylen Everette, Asante Samuel Jr., Riley Nowakowski, Carson Bruener, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Rayshawn Jenkins also contributed tackles for Pittsburgh.

Rodgers spread the ball around. Freiermuth caught five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Michael Pittman Jr. had three receptions for 58 yards. DK Metcalf caught four passes for 40 yards. Roman Wilson added three receptions for 26 yards. Darnell Washington had two receptions for 18 yards. Jaylen Warren rushed 10 times for 46 yards and caught five passes for 27 yards. Rico Dowdle ran eight times for 15 yards and caught two passes for 6 yards. The Steelers moved the ball steadily but needed Boswell’s leg and Watt’s defensive score to finish drives. Rodgers also completed passes to multiple targets and avoided turnovers after the early exchanges.

For Atlanta, Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown. Drake London had two receptions for 29 yards and added a 6-yard run. Jahan Dotson caught one pass for 19 yards. Olamide Zaccheaus had one reception for 5 yards and one kickoff return for 29 yards. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed nine times for 31 yards and returned two kickoffs for 64 yards, and he scored on the 23-yard catch. Nick Folk made two of four field goals. Defensively, Sydney Brown and Divine Deablo each made seven tackles. Jessie Bates III had six tackles. A.J. Terrell Jr. recorded five tackles. Kendal Daniels and Xavier Watts each had four tackles. Za’Darius Smith had three tackles and two sacks. LaCale London, Brandon Dorlus, Mike Hughes and Gervon Dexter Sr. each finished with three tackles. Atlanta scored 13 points and found the end zone once.

Atlanta will return home to face Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Falcons then travel to Green Bay on Thursday, Sept. 24. They visit New Orleans on Monday, Oct. 5. Baltimore comes to Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 11. Chicago visits on Sunday, Oct. 18. San Francisco visits on Sunday, Oct. 25. Atlanta travels to Tampa Bay on Sunday, Nov. 1. Cincinnati visits on Sunday, Nov. 8. Kansas City visits on Sunday, Nov. 15. Atlanta travels to Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 29. Pittsburgh will visit New England on Sunday, Sept. 20. Cincinnati comes to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 27. The Steelers visit Cleveland on Thursday, Oct. 1. Indianapolis visits on Sunday, Oct. 11. Pittsburgh travels to Tampa Bay on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Steelers visit New Orleans on Sunday, Oct. 25. Cleveland visits on Sunday, Nov. 1. Pittsburgh travels to Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Steelers visit Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 22. Denver visits Pittsburgh on Friday, Nov. 27.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pittsburgh 31, Atlanta 19. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Pittsburgh with a 75.8 percent probability to win. Atlanta had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +6.5. The total score of 33 went over the over-under line of 40.5.